Outside support or scaffold for window cleaners and the like



- Dec. 27, 1949 1 SHEA 2,492,598

. ou'rsnm SUPPORT OR SCAFFOLD FOR WINDOW CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOP/V VS.

Dec. 27, 1949 P. L. SHEA OUTSIDE SUPPORT 0R SCAFFOLD FOR wnmow CLEANERS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1947 4 w A a1 5 I 6 4 0 8 2 l r/ V A .d@

INVENTOR. 64,

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 OFFICE OUTSIDE SUPPORT OR SCAFFOLD FOR WINDOW CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Patrick L. Shea, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,632

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an outside support or scaffold for Window cleaners and the like, and more particularly to such a support which is adapted to. support a person cxteriorly of the window so that cleaning windows, placing screens, painting windows and the like can be accomplished with ease and safety.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide such a support which is completely safe and which also is so constructed as to facilitate any operation on the exterior of the window. In particular, the support is in the form of a unitary rigid structure which is locked against the outsideof the building so as to be rigidly held and thereby secure not only a safe support for the occupant but also to impart to the occupant a feeling of complete safety.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a support which is placed in a locked condition before the operator enters the same and which cannot be unlocked while the operator is carried by the support.

Another object is to provide such a support which is doubly locked so as to further uard against accidental derangement of any of the parts.

Another object is to provide such a support which is light in weight and can be readily moved into and out of the window and into and out of operative position by one having only a moderate amount of strength.

Another aim of the invention is to provide such a support which is guarded throughout by rubber protectors so that there is no danger of injuring the inside woodwork of a building, the exterior of a building, or of injuring the user while stepping into and out of the support.

Another object is to provide such a support which carries the person at a convenient height for cleaning the window while standing erect upon the support and which further provides plenty of room for holding the necessary tools and detergents.

Another object is to provide such a unitary holder which is cut away so as to fit around the exterior of the window sills and which will accommodate a wide variety of shapes and sizes of window sills.

Another object is to provide such a support having strengthening blocks which also provide a broad surface for mountinglthe support upon the window sill thereby to provide the necessary safety and at the same time avoid injury to the window sill.

Another object is to provide such a support 2 which can be provided in different heights to suit the particular use for which the scafiold is to be used.

Another aim is to provide a lock in which the parts are so interrelated as to hold one another in assembled relation regardless of whether the parts are in a locked or an unlocked condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a supporting device embodying the present invention, the view being taken from the side of the device which in its operative position is arranged against the side of the building.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view from the inside of one corner of the window casing and showing the adjacent part of the support embodying the present invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary horizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, this view showing the supporting device mounted upon the sill of a window casing and withthe adjacent parts of the building shown in section.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line l'l, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8--8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9, Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line Hll0, Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line I l-I I, Fig. 2.

The device embodying the present invention is adapted to support a person on the exterior of a window casing, indicated generally at. I5 and to support the person in a standing position and at such an elevation that all parts of the window are conveniently available for cleaning the exterior of the same, painting or puttying the window casing and sash or the like. The window casing shown in the drawing is of conventional construction for a sliding sash window and is shown as comprising the usual window sill I 6 which carries an inner stop l8, and side jambs l9 carrying the usual inner and outer stops 20 and 2| which form the vertical guideways for the sash (not shown). This casing is mounted in the usual windowopening provided in the frame of the house which is shown as provided with 29 to facilitate moving the body into and out ofthe window opening.

To provide a safe, rigid and strong connection between the semi-cylindrical side wall 26 and semi-circular bottom wall25, the bottom wall, along its semi-circular edge is flanged downwardly, as indicated at 39, and this flange-isreceived in a channel 3i provided by reversely bending the lower edgerof, the semi-cylindrical side wall as indicatedat 3 l The reversely bent part 3! of the semi-cylindrical side wall can. be crimped'againstzthe'flange 30 of;the bottom 25 and in addition rivets orother'fasteningsrnot shown) can be passed through these parts'for additional security; As an additional reinforcementfor the bottom wall 25, angle iron supports 32can be secured along the underside of this bottom wall in any suitable manner.

In use, the lower part of the body 24 rests against the siding 22of the building and in order to protect the building frame against marring or other injury vertical rubber beads33, which are U-shaped in cross section, are shown as fitted around the forward vertical edges of the lower part of the semi-cylindrical side wall-125 and cemented or otherwise'secured" in position. In addition, the lower forward'edge of the bottom wall 25 is preferably reinforced by adownwardly extending reverselybent flange St and since this flange is also arranged to contact the siding 22 of thebuilding; this flange is shown as provided with a U-shaped rubber protecting bead which can be'cemented to the flange 3 3.

The sill I6 of the window casing'projects outwardly beyond the siding1'22 of the building and to permit the rubberstrips' 33 and 35 to fit against the siding the-vertical edges of the semicylindrical side wall26 of the body arerecessed, as indicated at 38', the outerportion of the window sill lfifitting into this recess, asbest shown in Fig. 1; Above these recesses 38'the forward ends of the. semi-cylindrical side wallare: ex-

tended forwardly beyond theplane of the rubber strips33 to provide" arms or overhangs.39,rthe lower edges oflwhich are. inclined to rest upon the inclined window sill l5. Each of'these overhangs is shown as reinforcedlby, an inner metal block or plate to and an outer" metal block or plate ll. These reinforcing ,blocksor platesieii', 4i arewpreferably made. of aluminum or: other lightweight metal and. ofigenerally, rectangular form with theirllowenedges inclinedltoconform to. the inclination of the. lower edges .ofitheloverhangs. 39. Each pair. of, these platesior blocks ie, l can [be riveted together. and "tothe interposedfoverhang tilandan L-shapedstrlp otrubher 32 can be .adhesively secured to;thei underside of eachpairv of these blocks orplates and the interposed overhang 39 as bestshown in Fig. 8...

Alpair of alining holes 43 extendnthrough the lower. partsvof each pairpflthese ,blocks ,or plates 49,;5: and.theinterposed."overhang, 39 and in iii) these alining holes are arranged the opposite ends of a rod 64 which extends across the space between the overhangs 39 and these opposite ends being threaded, as indicated at 45, and projecting beyond the outer plates or blocks 4|. On this rod dd are swingably mounted a pair of links 4%, each of these links being provided at the end connected with this rod with a T-shaped enlargement 38', one: part of "which enlargement is aperturedto receive the rod 44: In the horizontal position of these links, the parts of the T-shaped enlargements 48 penetrated by the rod M are the downwardly extending parts thereof. The opposite or free ends of these links 4'6 are shown as being enlarged and apertured to receive a cross rod 58 which connects the free ends of these links 46 and. is arranged parallel with the rod M. The opposite ends of this cross rod 50 extend a substantial distance beyond the free ends of the links .5 andlare provided with rubber sleeves 5!. The rodi5l is of igreaterrlength than the width of the window opening provided by the casing is andhence it will be seen that theends of this rod'form anv anchorage for the support or scaffold, the rubbersleeves 5! thereof bearing against thevertical trim pieces 23 of the window casing and preventing'outward movement of the support or scaffold; supported by its overhangs 39 on the sill it, as above described; The enlargements at the outer extremities of'the links 45 normally rest on the-inner stop l8 carried by the window sill l6 and" to prevent marring of this stop the links can be providedwith rubber pads of any suitable form.

The links 45 are held against the opposing faces of the inner blocks or plates All) in any suitable manner as by the provision of collars on the rod 44 on which these links are swingably mounted. These links are locked in their horizontal operative position and for this purpose, in thishorizontal operative position of the links 36, the upwardly extending part of each of the-T shapedenlargements 48 at the inner end thereof is adapted to be penetrated by a headed sliding locking pin 56, this part of each link 45 being apertured for this purpose as, indicated at 58; Each of these lockin pins is slidably and rotatably mounted in a blocktll which is re? ceived to theexteri'or of the semi-cylindrical wall 26 by screwing the same onto the corresponding threaded end 45 of the rod 44, each of these blocks being provided with a threaded bore SI for this purpose. Each of these blocks 66 is providedin its upperpart with a bore 62 in which the corresponding lockingv pin 56 is .slidingly and. rotatably inounted'and, as best shown in Fig. 11, this bore registers with an opening fit through the adjacent platesl lfl'and Al and semi-cylindrie cal side wall as and, in the elevated operative position of the links 45 also registers with the opening 58 in thecorresponding one of these links As long as the inner ends of the locking pins 55 are retained inrthe opening ids-through the plates wand 41 andsemi-cylindrical. sidewall 25, theblocks fifliareipreventedfrom turning and hence unscrewing from the, threaded. ends 45 of the cross rod 44. The retracted movement of eachlof thelockingpins. Efi-is therefore. limited to disengagement .from the opening 58 of V the correspondinglink ii-and to. this end Vairetaining pin 65 projects radially outwardly from eachv of the locking pins. 56 and is fastrhereto; Each of these retaining pins is arranged in a U-shapedgroove Bfitextendingsdownwardly,from eachflof the-flblocks 60 which carry the locking pins 56. As best shown in Fig. 5, this U-shaped groove 66 is slightly wider than the retaining pin 65 arranged therein and is provided with a central cross part 68 which extends parallel with the corresponding locking pin 56 and in vertical alinement with the axis thereof, an inner lateral branch 69, one side of which is provided by the corresponding outer plate 40, and an outer lateral branch extending in the same direction as the inner lateral branch 69 but spaced outwardly therefrom. It will been seen that in, for example, retracting the locking pin 56, the locking pin is turned so as to swing its retaining pin 65 from the inner branch 69 of the groove 66 into the cross part 68 thereof. In this position of the retaining pin 65 the locking pin 56 can be slid axially outwardly until its retaining pin 65 strikes the end of the cross part 68 of the groove 66. When this occurs the locking pin 56 is fully retracted from the opening 58 in the corresponding link but is still retained in the opening 63 by the adjacent plates 46 and M and semi-cylindrical side wall 26. The locking pin 56 can then be turned to bring its retaining pin 65 into the outer branch it! of the U-shaped slot 66, thereby to retainthe locking pin 56 in its inoperative position.

In order to permit the half-barrel shaped body to adapt itself to different shapes or conditions of the exterior of the wall of the building, the openings 63 in the plates 48 and 4| and semicylindrical wall 26 and through which the looking pins 56 extend are preferably made slightly oversize in a vertical direction as shown in Fig. 11.

In the use of the window jack or support, the user seizes the upper end of the half-barrel shaped body portion 24 through the hand holes 29 with one hand, and seizes the cross rod 51] with his other hand. So held the apparatus can be maneuvered with surprising case, it being merely necessary to push on the cross rod and pull on the hand hole 29 portion of the body to raise the semi-circular bottom 25 of the body to a vertical position. In this position the body is horizontally disposed and hence its bottom-portion can readily be projected through the open window from the inside thereof. In this connection it will be understood that the major parts, particularly the body 24, can be made of aluminum or the like so as to-be very light in weight.

So held the body 24 is pushed bottom first through the open window until the rubber sleeves 5| at the projecting ends of the cross rod 56 strike the vertical inside trim pieces 23 of the window casing, this being just above the window sill. The operator then relaxes his pulling pressure on the upper hand hole 29 part of the body i5, this permitting the body to swing downwardly to its vertical position. In so swinging downwardly the rubber strips 42 on the undersides of the overhangs 39 swing into engagement with the top of the exterior window sill and the rubber strips 33 and 35 along the forward edges of the semi-cylindrical side wall 26 and semi-circular bottom 25 swing into engagement with the exterior of the building siding 22.

In this position of the parts the body 24 is in a vertical position and the links 46 are in a horizontal position with their openings 58 in register with the locking pins 56. The operator then turns each locking pin so as to bring its retaining pin 55 into a vertical position, this movement swinging this retaining pin from the outer branch 10 of the U-shaped slot 66 in the top of the block into the cross part 68 of this slot. The operar sition.

tor then pushes in each locking pin, the inner end of the locking pin entering the registering opening 58 of the corresponding link 46 and the retaining pin riding along the corresponding cross part 68 of the U-shaped slot 66 toward the body 24. When each retaining pin 65 reaches the inner end of the cross part 68 of the corresponding U-shaped slot 66, the operator turns the locking pin to swing its retaining pin 65 into the inner branch 69 of the U-shaped slot 66, thereby to retain the locking pin 56 in its operative position.

The operator can then step over the window sill onto the bottom 25 of the body, this bottom being arranged at a convenient height for this: purpose. By standing on the bottom 25 the op-- erator is at a convenient height to readily waslr the window panes, paint the sash and exterior Window trim, putty, or reglaze the sash, or apply storm sash or screens. All tools and materialsfor the job can readily be placed on the bottom 25 before stepping out of the window and are readily accessible with little danger of falling or loss.

The occupant stands on an imperforate and rigid bottom and is surrounded by the rigid and substantially imperforate semi-cylindrical side wall 26 and the side wall of the building. The body is solidly supported on the window sill and against the side wall of the building. Accordingly, the occupant is not only secure but feels secure in the use of the device. While in the window jack the occupant cannot release the locking pins 55 because of the pressure imposed thereon and hence the security of the device is further increased. At the same time only a fraction of the occupants weight is impressed against the siding 22 of the building so that there is little danger of marring the same and all parts are protected from marring of the building by rubber strips or facings.

After the window has been cleaned the occupant steps through the open window back into the building and retrieves any tools or materials from the bottom 25. The operator then turns each headed locking pin 56 so as to swing its retaining pin 65 from the inner branch 69 of its U-shaped groove 66 into the central portion 68 thereof. Each locking pin 55 can now be axially retracted, its retaining pin 65 sliding along the central cross part 68 of its U-shaped groove 66 at the end of which the locking pin 56 is turned so as to swing its retaining pin into the outer branch '18 of the U-shaped groove 66 and thereby retain the locking pin 56 in its retracted po- In this movement the inner ends of the locking pins 56 are withdrawn from the openings 56 in the links 46 and hence these links are now free to swing about the cross rod 4d.

The operator then grips the, cross rod 53 with one hand and reaches out and grips the upper part of the body 24 by means of the hand hold 29. He then pulls the upper part of the body 24 inwardly, this swinging the bottom 25 upwardly and bringing the body to a horizontal position. The body'z i can now be easily withdrawn into the building through the window, and transferred to the next window to be cleaned, repaired or provided with storm sash or screens.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, sturdy and safe window jack which can readily be placed in operative position and removed therefrom, and which greatly facilitates and reduces the hazard of exterior operations around a window.

anemone;

the free end of eachofsaid links and adapt'ed 1'0 to enga-ge-theins-ide of the -window casing, and means for locking said links against swinging with reference to said body'in the operative position thereof;

2: removable window' scaffold of" the char acterdescribed; comprisingg-arigid body having a bottom" and a" sid'e -wall" rising from said bottom and fixed thereto, said sidewall-beingprovided with arr opening atone side,- apair'of" parallef arms fast to the upper part-of said wall and projecting outwardl'y therefrompn opposite sides of" said opening near thempper' end thereof to overhang the WindoW-= sill"and-"rest thereon; apair of rigid" links pivotally secured-to'said overhanging'arms on opposite'sides of said opening to swingabout a-horizontal axis, and a lateral extension at the free end of eachof' said links and adapted to engage the inside of the window casing;

35 A-removable window scaffold of the character-described; comprising a rigid" body havin a generally semi-circular sheetmetal bottom, a generally semi-cylindrical-sheet metal wall rising from'said bottom and having its lower edge fixed' to the semi-ci-rcu1ar-'edge'=ofsaid bottom, a pair of parallel arms *proj ecting horizontally outwardly from thenpperparts of the-vertical edges-of said semi-cylindrical wall near' the'upper end thereof to= overhang the window' sill and restthereon, a pair of rigid links pivotally secured. to said overhanging armsto swing about a horizontal axis, and a lateral extension at the free end of eachof said=links-and adapted to engage the inside of the-window casing,

4. A removable window scaffold ofthechar= actor described, comprising a rigid body having a generallysemi-cireularsheet metal bottom, a" genera-11ysemi-cylindrical sheet metal wall rising from said bottom and havingits loweredge fixed to the semi-circular edge of said bottom, said semi-cylindrical wall 'being formed to provide a pair ofintegral sheet metal parallel arms projecting outwardly horizontally-from theupper parts of the vertical edges of said semi-cylindrical wallto overhangthe window sill' and rest thereon, areinforcing-plate securedtoat' least one face of each of said-overhanging arms; a cross rod connecting said reinforcing plates and arranged parallel withand'abovethe straight edge of said semi-circular bottom, a-pair'of rigidli'nks swingably connected to said: cross rod to swing about the axis thereofi and: a: lateral. extension: at the free end roieach oir'said'flinks'andiadaptedteengage thei'inside off: the :window: casin VA: removable-r window scafiold of the char 8; enter described; comprising; ar -rigid body having a bottom and a side walllrisingwf-rom saidfbottonr and 'fixed? thereto; saidriside-"wall being" provided with an opening atone side,- aparrot" parallel arms fast to-said wall 'andl projecting outwardly therefronr on opposite sides of'said opening mean the upper 'end thereof to-overhang the Window sill and: rest thereon, arspair ofllinlis =pivotally secured: to said overhanging arms on=oppositesides of'saidl opening toswing about a li'or-i'zont'al axis gener=- ally perpendicular to said overhanging arm's, a la-teral extension at the free end of each of' said links and adapted' tb engage the inside of thewindow casing; and meansfiir-lat'cliing at least one of said links in a -generallyhorizontal st tion comprising a latchin pirrslidingly" mounted an at" least one-of 'saidfv overhanging arms-andi adaptedto project into the path oi the corre sponding linkand' adaptedto enteran opening in the oorrespondlng-link inthe hori'zontal*po'si-- tion'thereof.

6." A removable window scaffold oi the -char'-- acter desoribed, comprising a r-igid body having in bottom and a. sheet"metal side -wall rising -from saidbott'om and fixed t'heretoz said side wall being:- provided withv an opening at' one side and saidside Wall being extended at opposite s-ides-of 'said opening at the upper end" thereof 'to-'provide'-a--pair of generally parallel outwardly projecting: arms adapted "to overhan' and rest upon the' window sill," a reinforcing" plate-secured tovat leasti one'" face'of each ofsaidoverhangi'ng arms; ape-1r of links pivotall'y secured to said' reinf-orcing plates to' swing about a horizontal-axis along the'--fac'es* thereof; a lateral extension-at the free end of each of said links and adapted' to enga'ge the inside of the window'casing, and=meansufor latchingat least one'of said linksiir ax-genera ll'y horizontal position comprising a bloeksecured tothe ex terior-"face-of thecorrespondingoverhangin'g'arm and having a horizontal boreregi'stering-tw-ith an openin through the tor-responding reinforcing plate andoverhanging arm and arranged general ly parallelwitli' the axis ot-said links, and a latch ing pin slidinglymounteddmsaid'bore andslidable to project" intothe' pathottiiecorresponding linlr'andadaptedto enter" amopening 'in the cor'- responding link 'in" tlie-=horizontal position there of;

PAIRICKL; SHEA:

REFERENCES GIT-ED- The following references are' of" record in the fileiof this patent:

UNITED-STATES: BA'IYENTS Number" Name Date 2243'110 Skid-more Feb. 1880- 1,285;436' Smith- Nov.- 19'; 191%! 2184, 157 Kruse' Dec-:26f1939 EOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5803020 Germany; Jilly i} 193$- 

